The Farmers scored three goals in the span of a minute as the second quarter opened and blew open a 2-1 game. The spurt was part of a 5-0 run, which provided more than enough cushion in a 14-2 win over Air Academy at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

“Once you hop on them early, you’re good to go for pretty much the whole game if you can keep the tempo high,” Wheat Ridge senior Pete Aplet said. “Our team is really good about that. We come out of the game just firing on all cylinders, and it was great to see all of our guys in this setting playing their hearts off.”

It was the latest in a string of dominance in the postseason. Wheat Ridge, the top seed, beat No. 16 Eagle Valley 18-1, No. 8 Thompson Valley 16-2 and No. 5 Valor Christian 13-5.

The Farmers (15-4) went 12-0 against 4A teams this season, including two wins over Air Academy.

“We feel like we could be playing in the 5A state championship game,” said Wheat Ridge goalie Jensen Makarov. “We think we’re good enough to where we could pretty much walk over any 4A team. We think that our team is just one great group of dudes that we can take on any challenge.”

Aplet led his team with two goals and four assists, and fellow senior Josh Kaufling scored three goals. John Roach, a junior, had two goals and two assists.

Makarov made 12 saves and was active all over his own end. The Maryland commitment cleared the ball with his feet a few times and was often the spark to Wheat Ridge’s attack.

“He’s definitely a great asset in the goal,” Wheat Ridge coach Chris Knott said. “He can hit the outlets, make the saves and clear the ball himself if he needs to.”

Air Academy cut the margin to 2-1 with 4:35 to go in the first quarter, but then went 13:46 until its next goal. That made it 7-2 with 2:51 to play in the half, but the Kadets didn’t score again.

MVP

Wheat Ridge attack Pete Aplet was the focal point of his team’s offense, and he had the stats to prove it with two goals and four assists.

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